Volunteers from Clonakilty, Kanturk, and Midleton and Cork City units of the Irish Red Cross responded as part of an emergency response that saw 21 people rescued from their capsized yacht.

The accident happened at approximately 5.30pm Monday evening when a yacht with a crew of 21 capsized 20km off the Cork coast. Crew members onboard were unable to make a mayday call but the satellite system which alerted the emergency services activated when it hit the water. The crew was in the water for over two hours and was rescued by the Baltimore life boat, coast guard helicopters and another yacht.

The Irish Red Cross volunteers responded to an emergency call for the yacht crew rescue as part of the Major Emergency Management Plan and were on hand to receive the rescued 21 at Cork airport, where they were due to be brought by helicopter. Due to weather conditions the rescue services, including the Irish Red Cross, were diverted to Baltimore where the Volunteers remained on standby to assist the HSE ambulances.

John Joe Lyons, Area Director for the Cork units of the Irish Red Cross said “As part of the Major Emergency Plan the Irish Red Cross is on hand to assist in emergencies throughout the country. Volunteers in Cork responded quickly and professionally to Monday’s emergency rescue and were on hand to assist the HSE. We are relieved that all 21 members of the yacht crew are now safe.”

Under the Major Emergency Management Framework in the event of a major incident developing, such as an outbreak of a pandemic, a local disaster, or a major flooding incident the Irish Red Cross provides support as an auxiliary resource to the State emergency services.